We have a HUGE number of announcements that have just come from our Industry Panel at Otakon 2017! If you weren’t able to make in person, here’s the rundown:

ACQUISITION ANNOUNCEMENTS

Myriad Colors Phantom World

Funimation has acquired and is releasing Myriad Colors Phantom World as part of our partnership with Crunchyroll. A huge treat for fans of Kyoto Animation, the studio behind titles like Haruhi, Nichijou and Free!, this show got a lot of attention for having great animation and being one of the rarer KyoAni shows with cute, particularly bouncy cute girls. Includes OVA episode!

Two releases:

Standard Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack

Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack

Chipboard box

Set of 5 lenticular art cards that show the characters in two different outfits, one normal and one alternate

Pre-Order: 8/15Street date: 11/21

Hybrid x Heart Magias Academy Ataraxia

Another show that Funimation is acquiring and releasing now as part of our partnership with Crunchyroll. Special girls with the ability to use Hybrid Heart Gear weapons to defend against invading enemies, but one particular boy has the ability to power-up the girls’ ability by making them climax.

Pre-Order: 8/15Street date: 11/21

Kiddy Girl-and

This one’s for the old-school fans–Kiddy Girl-and is a spinoff of Kiddy Grade, which was one of the earliest titles that Funimation released over a decade ago.

Pre-Order: 8/15Street date: 11/28

Ninja Hunter

This is a new live-action title Funimation is releasing! A ninja wakes up with no memories and must piece together how he got there and who murdered a beautiful female ninja. It’s a fun and violent movie for fans of over-the-top B action movies and ninjas!

Pre-Order: 8/15Street date: 11/14

Home Video Announcements

Your Name.

The #1 most successful anime film of all time is finally coming to home video. We know a lot of you have been wondering when this would finally go up for pre-order–we are releasing the movie on November 7, less than 4 months after the Japanese release, which is an extremely rare turn time in this industry.

Your Name. 2-disc original soundtrack by RADWIMPS, with English and Japanese versions

60-page hardcover art book

Art digipack

Blu-ray + DVD of the film and 59 minutes of extras.

your name.: Interview with Makoto Shinkai

Makoto Shinkai Filmography

Special TV Program

Trailers

Pre-Order: 8/15Street date: 11/7

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans

Street date announcement! You may have seen it previously on simulcast or its hit dub broadcast on Toonami–we’re excited to announce that we will be releasing Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans on home video! This is Funimation’s first home video release from the Gundam franchise.

Season One Part One and Season One Part Two, each on Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack

Season One Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack

Exclusive “HG (High Grade) 1/144 Scale GUNDAM BARBATOS + SMOOTHBORE GUN [METALLIC GLOSS INJECTION]” Gunpla model kit. This is a specific metallic gloss version of this Gunpla model that is ONLY available in the Funimation release and is a limited run that will not be reprinted, so this is a rare item! It’s not even going to be available in Japan.

Artbook

Rigid box that includes season one parts one and two, with space in the box to fit in season two’s releases. This is the only release that will include a rigid box for housing your complete IBO series

Season Two coming in 2018.

Pre-Order: 8/15Street date: 11/14

Speed Racer – Collector’s Edition

READY SET, GO! GO! GO!

Speed Racer dreams of becoming a professional racer. When meddling crooks keep him from the finish line, he finds a way to make it through. An endearing classic since 1967, Speed Racer has captivated audiences from every corner of the globe. Preserve one of the most beloved racing shows of all time and share it with generations to come. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the series, the Collector’s Edition will come complete with Speed Racer, Mach Go Go Go, and Mach Go Go Go: Restart in the first-ever official U.S. release of the Japanese audio.

Collector’s Edition includes the following:

Collectible Speed Racer Bust with Sound Effects

Complete 1967 Speed Racer Collection on DVD and Blu-ray

Complete 1967 Mach Go Go Go Collection on DVD and Blu-ray

Complete 1997 Mach Go Go Go Restart Collection on DVD

Collectible Speed Racer Key Chain

Bonus: 2017 Interview with Trixie voice actor CorinneOrr

Own it 11/7(Limited number available)

Future Diary: Complete Series + OVA

Future Diary is one of the most popular action-horror anime ever, and we’re releasing this with the OVA episode for the first time! The OVA, sometimes called Future Diary: Redial, is the true ending for the series and has never been dubbed or released before. This release will also be the first Blu-ray/DVD Combo pack for this title, for those of you who like to have both versions.

Pre-Order: 8/15Street date: 11/21

91 Days

Two releases:

Standard Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack

Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack

Chipboard box

40 page companion guidebook with artwork, character profiles, and a ton of background information related to the show about Prohibition, the Chicago mafia, the accurate period firearms featured in the series, etc

6 art cards

Pre-Order: 8/15Street date: 11/14

New Game!

Just added for streaming with dub on FunimationNow, and season two is coming out every week on SimulDub! This show is a great behind-the-scenes look at the video game industry, and follows a young recent graduate who joins an indie game company.

Pre-Order: 8/15Street date: 11/21

Project Itoh: Genocidal Organ

While developed countries rely on advanced surveillance to free them from the threat of terrorism, other nations are plagued by genocide within their own borders. Strangely, these massacres all link back to one American by the name of John Paul. Special agent Clavis Shepherd is sent to capture the target, but nothing can prepare this soldier—or the world—for the truth behind humanity’s darkness.

Standard Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack + Ultraviolet

DVD-only

Pre-order: 8/15Street Date: 11/7

SERVAMP

Our home video release for SERVAMP was previously announced at Anime Expo, and now we’re giving you a sneak peek at the beauty spread!

The team is headed to Washington, DC for some Otakon fun this weekend — and we’d love to see you there! If you’re at the convention, come check out our booth and panels, and be sure to say hi to Tara, Tim, Justin, and Jay!

In this interview from Otakon 2016, the brand-new English cast for Escaflowne weighs in on what it was like to recording this classic franchise! Read about the acting/recording process and what it’s like to record a dub for an older show from Caitlin Glass (Hitomi), Aaron Dismuke (Van), Alexis Tipton (Merle) and ADR Director Sonny Strait (Allen)!

Plus, you can hear them in the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack — the series and movie release contain the original and new dubs, plus the original Japanese audio with English subtitles!

Can you share your thoughts on the recording process and how you feel about this new dub?

Sonny: First of all, what did you guys think about the performance? [audience applause] When I was casting this, Hitomi was a no-brainer, I just knew it was Caitlin. But I also—you’ll get to see Vic Mignogna as Folken in this later. When I started, I thought “that’s who I want to play him.” And then I thought “wouldn’t it be cool if Aaron played his brother?” But I hadn’t directed Aaron since he was a little kid. And so I didn’t know—sometimes child actors don’t grow up to be great actors. So he auditioned—he was one of the first people to audition, and he nailed it. But then I was like “but we have to hear everyone else…” But no one came close. I thought he really nailed the part of that. And oh! and Merle. There were a lot of people who auditioned and with very cute voices and stuff, which is just what Merle needs, but Merle also has to have a real strong bout of humanity. And that’s what Alexis brought to this performance. When I heard her, I thought “That’s what I want.”

How familiar were you with Escaflowne before working on this English dub? Had you heard of or seen this series before?

Alexis: I have a friend that I’ve known since 7th grade who was really, really into this in middle school. And I had seen a little bit of it with her at her house after school, hanging out. And so when I heard we got the rights to dub Escaflowne, I was so excited because I knew someone who was very, very passionate about this anime. And when I was cast, I was really excited. So not only did I want to do right by the fans of Escaflowne, I also really wanted to do right by my friend, who has been my friend for so long.

Caitlin: I knew of the show of course; for a lot of us sitting here, working in the dubbing industry for ten years or more, but I knew of Escaflowne before I became a voice actor from when the anime came out. I had not seen the show back then; I didn’t know how to watch anything unless I could see it on television or rent it—which is good, because downloading illegal things is bad. So it was a series I had never seen and never thought I would be recording for, so it’s very special.

Aaron: I actually hadn’t of it yet when I auditioned—

Sonny: You weren’t born when it came out. [audience laughter]

Aaron: It came out in ’96, so I was… 4, when it came out initially. And I guess I was 8 when it first came out in America. So yeah, I hadn’t heard of it and as I watched a couple episodes—on YouTube, ironically—I watched a couple episodes of the original dub on YouTube, and I was impacted by, I think his name is Kirby. He was definitely a strong point of it, yeah.

Sonny: I was aware of it and I had seen some of it., but it was during a kids’ block of cartoons, and so I watched it in this kids’ block of shows, and what’s great about the version you’re going to hopefully buy soon is that this is unedited. This is the way it was intended to be done. And you know, many companies do that, Funimation has done that before too, but I’d much rather have the unedited version.

For Sonny: As ADR director, what was your approach to directing the dub for this classic series? Is there a difference between dubbing for Escaflowne versus dubbing for a contemporary series?

Sonny: No, not really. We were aware of the fanbase and we wanted to do the best job we could, but really it’s all about putting the actors in that scene, in that moment. The directing process didn’t get impacted at all, it’s just that we got work on a really cool, high-profile show.

Since there was previously a dub that was created for this series, was that a challenge?

Sonny: Well, that’s yet to be seen. [audience laughter] I don’t think so. I mean, none of the characters, none of the actors here based their performances on the original dub, and I encouraged them not to. I wanted something to be new, to be fresh. Acting styles change about every decade, so what they did 20 years ago wouldn’t work today.

Considering the show is from 20 years ago, how difficult was it to stay true to the script, as opposed to going off and saying “my character would never say that?”

Sonny: The script was pretty solid. Occasionally there were some parts with some improvising going on. I always encourage my actors: if they can come up with something that works just as well for the scene and it feels more natural coming from the character, then to do so, and that occasionally happens. But the script was pretty solid.

Alexis: Yeah, and Merle—I got to play a lot with her. Sometimes there would be moments where she’d be like *huff huff huff* where I’d be like *huff huff, mrowr, huff* where she’d make little squeaks or little chirps or little meows that were not necessarily scripted, just to give her more character.

Sonny: The most important thing is to stay true to the intention of the original creator. And sometimes you could say that in several different ways in English, so sometimes you think “well, this character might say it better this way.” So as long as the intention was true to the original Japanese, that’s what we stick to.

Summary
In a world where dirty jokes don’t exist, where the mere utterance of a ***** word will thrust you into jail, a hero must rise up as a symbol for all things lewd and rude. The mysterious Blue Snow, proudly wearing panties on her face and armed with naughty images and a foul mouth, will bring the art of dirty jokes back! With her erotic terrorist group, SOX, she will press against the stiff authority of the oppressive Decency Squad and step on their hard and overbearing rules. Tanukichi Okuma is the son of an imprisoned ero-terrorist. Rather than following in his father’s footsteps, he plans to stay on the track of morality and wholesomeness. Just like his dream girl, Anna Nishikinomiya, he attends Japan’s most moral school. But after an encounter with Blue Snow, his virtuous plans are ****** and he finds himself entangled with SOX. Will the pursuit of smut tarnish what hope he has with the pure Anna, or will he *** around, stimulated by the panty wearing deviant and her filthy mouth?

It’s a convention double-header this weekend with our team splitting up between Otakon in Baltimore, MD and AnimeFest in Dallas, TX! You can catch Justin & Tara at Otakon this weekend; or say hi to Tim, Scott, Alex, Lauren & Godswill at AnimeFest!

No matter which con you’re at, we’ve got a lot of fun in store for you! First up…

OTAKON

PANELS & SCREENINGS

From Akira to Dragon Ball Z, hear the latest news, info, and announcements from North America’s largest anime distributor—Funimation. Live tweet with us using the hashtag #FunimationPanel for a chance to win prizes!

Guaranteed to be a good time that’s oh so NSFW. Watch jiggly clips and trailers from some of the hottest Funimation titles with host Cookie Stratford! Don’t forget to bring tissues, you know, for the nose bleeds. Audience participation encouraged by tweeting using the hashtag #FunimationPeepShow. You could even win some naughty prizes. (18+, Bring your IDs!)

The Vision of Escaflowne New 2016 Dub North America Premiere Screening — It’s the 20th anniversary of the classic fantasy mecha anime The Vision of Escaflowne—coming soon to Blu-ray for the first time in North America with a special new 2016 English dub to match the director’s cut of the series! Join Escaflowne director Kazuki Akane, the cast of the new English dub, and the Funimation crew for the world premiere of the 2016 English dub for the series, followed by a Q&A session!

Fandoms join together like tales in a story book this weekend atOtakon 2015— and we’ve certainly got a bunch of tales to contribute! Join us as we head to Baltimore, Maryland for panels, announcements, premieres, and much more magical anime fun!

Just announced at the FUNimation Industry Panel at Otakon, see below for a list of the latest home video acquisitions.

FUNimation has acquired the home video distribution rights for D-Frag!

synopsis:

Based on the manga released by Seven Seas.

Kenji likes to think that he and his gang of friends are the bad boys of their school. That is, until he meets the four insane girls of a game making club whose personalities are all super weird (and a little on the violent side). When Kenji’s forced to join their little group, his life quickly takes a turn for the outrageous.

Based on the hit fighting game series, FUNimation has picked up home video distribution rights for BlazBlue: Alter Memory!

synopsis:

Long ago, the world was saved from a monstrous creature known as the Black Beast by a group of heroes wielding a powerful combination of magic and science. Now, a rebel named Ragna the Bloodedge–who happens to be the most wanted man on the planet–finds himself in the middle of a mysterious plot that’s somehow connected to the Black Beast’s resurrection and the possible end of the world.

The two Premium Editions will each feature different packaging and premium items, but their precise details will be announced later.

synopsis:
Explore the far reaches of the galaxy in this undeniably hip series that inspired a generation – and redefined anime as an indisputable art form.

The Bebop crew is just trying to make a buck. This motely lot of intergalactic loners teams up to track down fugitives and turn them in for cold hard cash. Spike is a hero whose cool façade hides a dark and deadly past. The pilot Jet is a bruiser of a brute who can’t wait to collect the next bounty. Faye Valentine is a femme fatale prone to breaking hearts and separating fools from their money. Along for the ride are the brilliant, but weird, hacker Ed and a super-genius Welsh Corgi named Ein. On their own, any one of them is likely to get lost in the sprawl of space, but together, they’re they most entertaining gang of bounty hunters in the year 2071.

When science and sorcery clash, the result is explosive in this sequel to A Certain Magical Index from the studio that brought you Shakugan no Shana!

The Book of the Law—an encoded grimoire containing catastrophic magic—has been stolen, so naturally Kamijo, Index, and a few familiar faces join in the crusade to protect the one nun who can decipher the powerful text. But as the group battles church sects and holy assassins, they realize that discovering who their true enemy is may be more difficult than saving the sister. Meanwhile, an organization known as the Science Society resurrects an esper-producing program, a school festival brings out the competition—and drama—in the student population, and a mysterious figure negotiates the purchase of a sacred relic that could threaten the future of Academy City.

Next up, more Fairy Tail! Check out some of the new characters you’ll meet in Fairy Tail Part 13. (Both Japanese and English voice actors listed below).

Flower Mound, Texas (8/9) – FUNimation Entertainment® announced today it has acquired the home entertainment, digital and broadcast rights to the OVA series Black Butler – Book of Murder.

From Studio: A-1 Pictures, the studio that brought you Blue Exorcist, Sword Art Online, Fairy Tail, and Black Butler, the series was directed by Noriyuki Abe, known for Bleach, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Black Butler – Book of Circus.

synopsis:

At the Queen’s behest, young master Ciel Phantomhive hosts a lavish banquet to be attended by the crème-de-la-crème of London’s elite. What begins as a fabulous affair quickly takes a dark turn when guests begin turning up dead! Murder takes center stage in this chilling OVA collection where even a debonair demon butler isn’t safe from a killer on the prowl. Should Sebastian and Ciel wish to once more see the light of day, they must join forces with their guests, including the legendary author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, to unravel the mystery – and apprehend the murderer before it’s too late!

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